Manually operated ice making apparatus



Sept. 11, 1962 c, volGTMANN 3,053,059

MANUALLY OPERATED ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed. March 30, 1960 2227 for Robert C 1 01; fmann 33,053,059 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 ice 3,053,059 MANUALLY OPERATED ICE MAKING APPARATUS Robert C. Voigtmann, Mount Prospect, IlL, assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, EL, 3 corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 18,666 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-344) This invention relates to ice making devices and more particularly relates to an ice making apparatus of a type employing a flexible ice tr-ay which is adapted to be installed within the freezing compartment of a normal household refrigerator.

The flexible ice tray which forms a part of the present invention is preferably a one-piece molded structure having a plurality of mold wells formed therein which is formed of high density linear polyethylene, although other types of flexible ice trays might also be satisfactorily employed. The use of high density polyethylene is desirable since this substance (1) is quite strong and durable, (2) resists cracking and tearing when twisted under low temperature conditions and (3) is relatively rigid while still permitting the desired amount of flexure of the tray. It has further been found that linear polyethylene is particularly adaptable for use in forming an ice tray since there is little tendency for ice blocks to adhere to the surface of this substance.

The ice tray is rectangular in configuration with a plurality of aligned mold wells therein and is adapted to be twisted about its longitudinal axis to effect, when in an inverted position, the ejection of ice blocks from the mold wells.

The aforementioned type of flexible ice tray is particularly suited for use in an ice making apparatus of the type herein disclosed since ice blocks are readily ejected from the mold wells therein upon the application of a very small twisting action, in terms of both degree of force and twist necessitated.

In acordance with my invention, I provide in combination with such a tray, an ice block container which serves to collect the ice blocks ejected from the ice tray and which is cooperable with the tray to facilitate ejection of ice blocks therefrom.

Basically, the container comprises a box-like structure having ice tray supporting posts mounted in three corners thereof which serve as seats for three corners of a flexible ice tray of the type generally described above. Subsequent to freezing of ice blocks within an ice tray, the tray is inverted and seated on the three upstanding container supporting posts. Thereafter, the unsupported corner of the ice tray is manually depressed to twist the tray and thus effect ejection of ice blocks therefrom.

The end of the tray having two supported corners is prevented from rocking off its corner-post seats by means of a cantilever bracket which is connected to the container and which extends over that end of the tray, gripping the end and preventing twisting thereof upon depression of the unsupported corners of the tray.

To facilitate proper placement of the ice tray on the corner-post seats, a pair of guideways are formed along the inner walls of the container which extend, at a relatively gentle incline, from the base of the container to the containers rear corner-post seats. The rear wall of the container prevents movement of the ice tray rearwardly of the rear corner posts so that an inverted ice tray may readily be moved up the inclined guideways until rearward motion is prevented and the forward end of the tray may then be dropped onto the single forward corner post.

The front wall of the container is recessed to provide a clearance space to permit the operator to readily grip the ice tray seated on the corner posts.

This ice making apparatus may be produced very economically and requires no permanent connection to the freezer with which it is employed and, further, may readily be operated, requiring no upkeep.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a manually operable ice making apparatus comprising a flexible ice tray and a cooperating ice block container; the latter of which serves to facilitate manual ejection of ice blocks from the tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tricornered mount for a flexible ice tray so that upon placement of an inverted tray thereon and subsequent depression of the unsupported corner of the tray, ice blocks will be ejected from the tray.

A further object of the invention resides in the pro vision of a combination ice block container and tri-corner mount for a flexible ice tray.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ice block container having three corner-post mounts for a flexible ice tray, wherein guideways are formed in two side walls of the container which are inclined from the base to the tops of the two rear corner posts, to guide the placement of a flexible ice tray into proper position thereon.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a container having three corner post mounts for an ice tray, wherein means are provided at the two-cornerpost end of the container for preventing rocking movement of the tray upon depression of the unsupported corner thereof.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will appear and become apparent from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an ice block container having three corner post mounts which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a flexible ice tray of a type which is preferably employed in combination with the tri-corner mount container of the present invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through the flexible ice tray illustrated in FIGURE 2 showing ejection of ice blocks therefrom upon distortion thereof.

Referring initially to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown an ice tray 10 which is preferably formed of high density linear polyethylene and which has rigidified side and end rails 11 and 12, respectively. Since the end rails 12 are quite short and have a depending lip 13 formed integrally therewith they will generally retain their rectilinear configuration even when the tray 10 is twisted about its longitudinal axis. The side rails 11 are generally U-shaped in cross-section and rise above the plane of the end rails 12. As a result of their configuration, the side rails 11 are very resistive to sagging but may be longitudinally distorted or twisted.

A plurality of legs 9 depend from the side rails 11 which are formed integrally with the tray and which have feet 8 extending therefrom upon which the tray rests when it is in an upright, liquid receiving position.

A plurality of ice molds or mold wells 14 are formed within the tray 10 which have no common side or end walls. The bases 15 of the molds 14 are curvilinear along one dimension thereof. Side walls 16 diverge upwardly from the bases, at an angle of approximately 14 with respect to the vertical, to lips 17. The several molds are integrally formed with one another at the lips of adjacent molds; the interconnection at the lips being the sole interconnection between the molds.

Channels 18 are formed within the lips of adjacent ice molds which serve to communicate liquid from one mold to another upon filling of a mold to the level of the bottom of its respective channel or channels. These channels also have side walls which diverge upwardly from the bases thereof at an angle of approximately 14 with respect to the vertical to facilitate ejection of ice pieces therefrom upon twisting of the tray 10; the angle of divergence of 14 having been found to facilitate the ejection of ice pieces from molds.

FIGURE 3 best illustrates an ejection operation. After ice blocks have formed within the molds 1 4, the tray 10 is inverted and then twisted about its longitudinal axis. Since the end rails 12 substantially maintain their rectilinear configuration the individual ice block molds are distorted but maintain (as viewed in plan) an oblique parallelogram configuration. The distortion of the molds breaks the bond between the walls of the molds and the ice blocks therein by a shearing action and the ice blocks fall from the ice tray 10. The ice pieces which are formed within the channels 18 interconnect the ice blocks within adjacent molds so that one ice block may also pry an adjacent ice block from its respective mold to aid in the ejection operation.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, an ice block container 20 is shown as having a base 21 and upstanding front, rear, and sidewalls 22, 23, and 24, respectively.

Guideways 25 are formed along the inner surfaces of the side walls 24 and are inclined, front to rear, from the base 21 to a pair of corner posts 26 disposed in each of the rear corners of the container 20. These guideways serve to guide one end of the ice tray 10 into proper position on the corner posts 26. Upon movement of the rear end of the ice tray into its proper position, on the corner posts 26, one corner of the front end of the tray may be dropped onto a front corner post 27, disposed at the front wall of the container 20.

Thus, to effect ejection of ice blocks from the tray 10, the tray is seated in an inverted position on the three corner posts 26 and 27 and is subsequently distorted by imparting a longitudinal twist thereto.

A bracket 30 is mounted on the rear wall 23 of the container 20 and extends in cantilever-fashion over the container interior and over the rear end of the tray 10 when that tray is properly positioned on the corner posts 26 and 27. The bracket 30 grips the rear end of the tray 10 rather snugly so as to prevent rocking of the tray off the rear corner posts when the tray is distorted.

Thus, when the tray 10 is properly positioned on the container 20 and is engaged by the bracket 30, distortion of the tray is effected by manually depressing the unsupported corner of the tray. Such depression twists the tray about its longitudinal axis and distorts the individual ice molds 14 within the tray a sufiicient degree to effect the ejection of ice blocks therefrom.

The upper edge of the front wall 22 and a portion of one sidewall 24 of the container 20 is relieved as at 31 to provide a clearance between that wall and the ice tray 10 so that the tray can readily be lifted off the corner-post seats.

By this invention I have provided a simple, inexpensive, manually operated ice making apparatus which can be disposed within any freezing compartment and which provides a rugged unit particularly adaptable to installation within the freezing compartments of existing refrigerators.

It will be understood, therefore, that this embodiment of the present invention has been used for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications and variations of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ice making apparatus comprising the combination of a flexible four-cornered ice tray adapted to contain liquid to be frozen into an ice block and to be distorted to break the bond between the ice block and said tray, and an ice block container having a base having front, rear, and side walls extending upwardly from said base, a pair of spaced tray support posts disposed in juxtaposition to said rear wall, a single tray support post formed along one of said side walls and terminating below the edge thereof and spaced from said first pair of posts, wherein the upper ends of said rear support posts terminate below the upper edge of said rear wall, guideways formed along the inner surfaces of said side walls extending from said base of said container to the upper ends of said rear support posts, and said support posts being positioned to support three corners of said tray so that depression of the unsupported corner of said tray will twist said tray to dislodge an ice block therefrom.

2. An ice making apparatus comprising the combination of a flexible four-cornered ice tray adapted to contain liquid to be frozen into an ice block and to be distorted to break the bond between the ice block and said tray, and an ice block container having a base having front, rear, and side walls extending upwardly from said base, a pair of spaced tray support posts disposed in juxtaposition to said rear wall, a single tray support post formed along one of said side walls and terminating below the upper edge thereof and spaced from said first pair of posts, wherein the upper ends of said rear support posts terminate below the upper edge of said rear wall, the upper edge of said front wall being relieved to provide a clearance to grip said tray by hand from its seated position, whereby said support posts are positioned to support three corners of said tray so that depression of the unsupported corner of said tray will twist said tray to dislodge an ice block therefrom.

3. An ice making apparatus comprising the combination of a flexible four-cornered ice tray adapted to contain liquid to be frozen into an ice block and to be distorted to break the bond between the ice block and said tray, and an ice block container having a base having front, rear, and side walls extending upwardly from said base, a pair of spaced tray support posts disposed in juxtaposition to said rear wall, a single tray support post formed along one of said side walls and terminating below the edge thereof and spaced from said first pair of posts, wherein the'upper ends of said rear support posts terminate below the upper edge of said rear wall, guideways formed along the inner surfaces of said side walls extending from said base of said container to the upper ends of said rear support posts, the upper edge of said front wall being relieved to provide a clearance to grip said tray by hand from its seated position, whereby said support posts are positioned to support three corners of said tray so that depression of the unsupported corner thereof will twist said tray to dislodge an ice block therefrom.

4. An ice rnaking apparatus comprising the combination of a flexible four-cornered ice tray adapted to contain liquid to be frozen into an ice block and to be distorted to break the bond between the ice block and said tray, and an ice block container having a base having front, rear, and side walls extending upwardly from said base, a pair of spaced tray support posts disposed in juxtaposition to said rear wall, a single tray support post formed along one of said side walls and terminating below the upper edge thereof and spaced from said first pair of posts, wherein the upper ends of said rear support posts terminate below the upper edge of said rear wall, guideways formed along the inner surfaces of said side walls extending from said base of said container to the upper ends of said rear support posts, the upper edge of said front wall being relieved to provide a clearance to grip said bra-y by hand from its seated position, whereby said support posts are positioned to support three corners of said tray so that depression of the unsupported corner thereof will twist s aid tray to dislodge an ice block therefrom.

References fiited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,429,882 Jennings Oct. 28, 1947 10 2,785,538 Schweller Mar. 19, 1957 2,934,916 Erickson May 3, 1960 

